It is used to hold leaders or executive committees accountable. If a leader is failing to make decisive moves, the proverb serves as a warning that the negative consequences of their inaction are already predictable.

The phrase literally translates to:

It is a common refrain among Zambian football fans when a team's performance begins to slip. If a team is losing games or playing poorly, fans will say "Bacimwena kumampalanya" to suggest that the team’s eventual failure (like relegation) is already visible through their current form.

"Bacimwena kumampalanya" serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of foresight. In life, business, or sports, failure rarely happens overnight; it is preceded by a series of 'mampalanya'—signs and patterns—that provide a roadmap of where we are heading. To ignore these signs is to invite the inevitable. Whether it is a football team struggling on the pitch or a project losing its way, the wisdom of this proverb urges us to act while there is still time to change the outcome. Don't wait for the end to come; look at the signs today. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more These three powerful Bemba adages - Facebook

It essentially means that you don't need someone to tell you what is happening when the signs are already clear. It is the Bemba equivalent of the English idiom, Usage and Context